Central Florida Killer, Cyberstalker to be Executed

Web 2.0 has helped people in different parts of the world communicate and share ideas online. However, Andrew Allred of Oviedo, Fla. used the same unique tools others use positively for something tragic: stalking and killing an ex-girlfriend.

According to a story by Rene Stutzman of the Orlando Sentinel, Allred was handed the death penalty today for two counts of first-degree murder. The story claims Allred cyberstalked and killed an ex-girlfriend and a friend of hers, who happened to be a student at the University of Central Florida.

Though the story was written well, I thought it could have used more details. I asked myself why it didn't. Was it to respect the privacy of the families whose loved ones were slain? Or was it because the sentencing just took place today and there aren't enough details allowed to be published yet? I looked to see at what time the story had been published but it didn't say.

And the most popular story is...

With an hour to go before class starts, I decided to blog about something to kill some time. So I went to Yahoo and clicked on a link that shows users what the most popular online stories are at the moment.

At #1 is a story about a new study revealing that unhappy people spend more time watching television than people who consider themselves happy.

According to this study done at the University of Maryland, people who have more sex, read more often, and spend most of their free time socializing with others, view themselves as happier individuals than those who do not.

Interesting. I rarely watch television. Unless there's a big boxing match scheduled or a primetime football game being aired.

Obama's 60 Minutes Interview

In case you missed Barack Obama's first interview since being elected 44th president of the United States, you can watch it below.


Watch CBS Videos Online

In this 60 Minutes telecast, Obama and his wife Michelle discuss several issues with Steve Kroft, from the economy to the dog they will buy for their two girls. The video is a bit long at almost 43 minutes, but there are some humorous parts in it that I thought were worth watching.

If one wanted to see a replay of this video 30 years ago, it would have been almost impossible to. Where would it go? Thanks to Web 2.0, that is not a problem.

Massachusetts Unemployment Photo Gallery

Unemployment tends to rise whenever the economy is turbulent. Just recently, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the nation's unemployment rate at 7.5, which accounts for over 10.1 million Americans without a job. That's scary. What's scarier is that those numbers are only going to get worse in the coming months.

The Boston Globe recently featured an interesting photo gallery profiling major companies and corporations in Massachusetts that are laying people off.

In the gallery, it shows a picture of the company offices in Massachusetts. It then lists the different statewide locations, how many Massachusetts employees currently work there, and how many people in the state have lost their job.

The photo gallery is definitely grim, but it's worth looking at. Here's to hoping I can find a job once I graduate...

Problems with Rush Limbaugh's Website

I have a friend who's very conservative and politically active.

Yesterday, we bumped into each other outside Richter Library and ultimately began discussing politics--this girl's favorite topic. After a while, the conversation got into Rush Limbaugh's radio show, which to no surprise, this girl listens to regularly. One thing stood out about this conversation and that was, she said that, though she's followed Limbaugh's show over the years, she doesn't particularly like his website.

So today I checked out the site and quickly saw what my friend was referring to. Everything about Limbaugh's site looks cluttered. Plus, there are way too many ads. Also, the main section tabs are very small and hard to locate though they're at the top of the page. Moreover, there are so many colors, which can really overwhelm your eyes.

I don't care too much for Limbaugh or his political views. I agree with some of them; with others I don't. However, I think if enough of his devoted listeners dislike the way his site looks, they should contact his webmaster so the necessary changes can be made.

Troop Tube

Just about everyone in the world knows about YouTube. It's the best place to go online to kill time, especially when you're at work like I am now. Sometimes I surf around and watch old boxing matches or cartoons that aired when I was a child. Hey, anything to not fall asleep on the job.

But I'm sure most people haven't heard of TroopTube. It's just like YouTube, only customized for the U.S. military.

About a year ago, the Pentagon blocked social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace for members in the armed forces. The Pentagon claimed this was a security measure, as they didn't want classified material to be leaked. This didn't sit well with the troops, who wanted a way to stay in touch with their loved ones back home. So TroopTube was developed.

In order to register on TroopTube, one must work for the Defense Department or serve in the U.S. armed forces. That or have a family member in the military. The process of uploading videos is similar to YouTube, only that the Pentagon reviews all videos before they are posted on the site, instead of an editorial board.

I think the concept of TroopTube is a good idea, although I don't agree with the fact that soldiers are not allowed to use social networking sites. But then again, no one asked for my opinion.

I don't have any relatives or friends in the armed forces, so I don't know how soldiers feel about TroopTube. That would be interesting to know. I would also like to know if there any other sites that soldiers cannot access, particularly those related to the news.

Critiquing the New York Times' Online Layout

The New York Times is considered the most respectable American newspaper and for good reason. For years now, the content it's featured has been excellent.

However, if you visit their online edition, you can't help but notice that the layout on the front page feels jumbled and mashed together. The Times continues to feature great articles and very useful information, but they should really consider editing their layout. They could start by organizing their sidebars and giving everything a bit more white space.

Compared to other newspapers' online editions, such as the Miami Herald, the Boston Globe, and the Washington Post, the Times looks sloppy. And that's a shame because its content is usually better than the other three papers. Still, as respectable as a newspaper may be, people will not read it online if it's not easy on the eyes.